LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Haley Grant was nominated by her principal, Tara Brewer. 

"Haley is a LifeChanger due to her impact on students, faculty, and staff within the building, as well as the impact she has carried into the community. In our school building, Haley consistently goes above and beyond to ensure our students and school run efficiently. This is shown through her assisting when other teachers need to leave for an emergency and taking on their students with her own," said Brewer.

She has provided shoes and other clothing for her physical education classroom so students can participate, be successful, and also avoid the possibility of being picked on for not having the appropriate clothing. Ms. Grant cleans cafeteria tables between every lunch period, not because it is required, but because of the pride she takes in the school building and in providing students with the best experiences at all times. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Grant attends the majority of after-school events to support students. She builds strong relationships with students by attending events and then holding discussions about them with the students the next day at school.

Ms. Grant is also the middle school softball coach. She uses this time to teach middle school girls about not only the fundamentals of softball, but life skills that extend beyond the field. Many of Ms. Grant's players return to support her and speak highly of the impact she has had on their lives.

Ms. Grant's impact on the school extends well beyond her classroom. Her impact on the school's culture and climate is felt, even when she is not around. This year, Ms. Grant has taken on the role of mentoring new teachers in the building. This has been very impactful, as the school has been rapidly growing over the last two years, and it can be difficult for the administration to meet with the new members of the school building on a routine basis. Ms. Grant chooses to dedicate time during her planning or after school to ensure that all teachers have someone to talk to, providing support, strategies, and guidance.